The main issue is infrastructure like power, cable damage, and heating/cooling systems.

Power lines tend to go down because anything weak becomes brittle and any accident involving a pole tends to cause them to break rather than absorb impact.  Also, conduits and manholes that normally might be above freezing underground can have standing water freeze breaking splice cases and such.

Large chiller plants need to be run at higher temperatures and speeds to keep any outdoor components from freezing up. 

Of course, repairs on anything outdoors tend to take a lot longer to resolve.  Anything that requires digging might be near impossible in these conditions.

So far though in my area (Chicago) my carriers AT&T, Comcast, Cogent, and Level 3 all seem to be fine so far.  Our current temp is -18.  Wind chill reports at -50 to -60 depending where you are.

Steven Naslund

Chicago IL

From: NANOG <nanog-bounces@nanog.org> On Behalf Of Mark Tinka
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 10:38 AM
To: North American Network Operators' Group <nanog@nanog.org>
Subject: Effects of Cold Front on Internet Infrastructure - U.S. Midwest

For anyone running IP networks in the Midwest, are you having to do anything special to keep your networks up?

For the data centres, is this cold front a chance to reduce air conditioning costs, or is it actually straining the infrastructure?

I'm curious, from a +27-degree C summer's day here in Johannesburg.

Mark.